Film receiving apparatus

ABSTRACT

A developed film receiving apparatus including an open, U-shaped tray, the rear wall of the tray being pivotal relative to the sidewalls and terminating upwardly in a bent flange. A flexible film receiving sheet attaches to the developing machine at one end thereof and terminates at the other end in a flange, the sheet flange being removably associated with the rear wall flange whereby the film receiving sheet may be optionally bent to a Ushaped configuration within the basket. The sheet is longitudinally creased to provide longitudinally extending strengthening ribs whereby the film receiving sheet can be optionally aligned in a planar configuration by resting a medial portion of the sheet upon the rear wall flange.

United States Patent [191 Hope et al.

[ FILM RECEIVING APPARATUS [76] Inventors: Henry F. Hope, 3192 Huntingdon Rd., Huntington Valley, Pa. 19006; Stephen F. Hope, 2548 Wyandotte, Willow Grove, Pa. 19090 [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 339,305

[52] US. Cl. 271/207, 271/209 [51] Int. Cl. B65h 31/00 [58] Field of Search 271/86, 161, 207-209,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l968 Gruver 271/86 X 5/1970 Zoglmann 271/161 X [111 3,807,726 Apr. 30, 1974 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-James W. Miller Attorney, Agent, or FirmKa.rl L. Spivak [57] ABSTRACT A developed film receiving apparatus including an open, U-shaped tray, the rear wall of the tray being pivotal relative to the sidewalls and terminating upwardly in a bent flange. A flexible film receiving sheet attaches to the developing machine at one end thereof and tenninates at the other end in a flange, the sheet flange being removably associated with the rear wall flange whereby the film receiving sheet may be optionally bent to a U-shaped configuration within the basket. The sheet is longitudinally creased to provide longitudinally extending strengthening ribs whereby the film receiving sheet can be optionally aligned in a planar configuration by resting a medial portion of the sheet upon the rear wall flange.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 3 0 I974 gum 1 or 2 I PATENTEUAPR 30 I974 SHEET 2 OF 2 FILM RECEIVING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of photographic film developing equipment, and more particularly, is directed to a developed film receiving apparatus for use with automatic x-ray or other film developing apparatus.

Small, self-contained, automatic x-ray and other film processing machinery has become increasingly popular in use in those establishments wherein necessary floor space cannot be made available for extensive dark room facilities. Offices of doctors and dentists, laboratories, hospitals and the like are exemplary of occupancies wherein such equipment has proved useful. The present invention relates to a novel film receiving tray which can be used in conjunction with the presently available, self-contained type, film processing units and greatly improves over all known prior art developed film receiving trays.

The present developed film receiving apparatus positions exteriorly of the automatic x-ray film developing apparatus to receive the developed film from the usual drying unit, such as described in our co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 269,641, filed July 7, 1972 and entitled Film Dryer System." Y

The prior art types of developed film receiving trays are all quite bulky in nature, and fixed in position and require an excessive amount of floor space relative to the size of the developing equipment itself. Also, the prior art film receiving trays are normally positioned near floor level, thereby requiring a great deal of stooping and bending in order to collect the developed film.

Further, all of the prior art developed film receiving apparatus of which we are familiar, are fixed in nature and incorporate no adjustable features whatsoever. Accordingly, when handling film of different sizes, there is no method of easily adjusting the film receiving tray to accommodate the various film sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTION The present invention relates generally to automatic x-ray or other film processing equipment, and more particularly, is directed to'a novel developed film receiving apparatus which is adjustable in nature and which may be easily adjustable to different relative positions to accommodate developed film of various sizes.

The developed film receiving apparatus of the present invention receives the fully developed film from the film dryer apparatus of a conventional automatic x-ray or other film processing machine and incorporates means to readily vary the configuration of the apparatus to accommodate developed film of various sizes.

The invention incorporates a generally U-shaped open tray which has fixed sides and bottom and which attach to the rearward end of the film processing equipment. The sides and bottom terminate rearwardly in a pivotally connected back which may be pivotally adjusted to a plurality of angularly oriented positions relative to the x-ray developing machine. The back terminates upwardly in a forwardly bent flange which serves the dual purpose of retaining the trailing edge of a bent sheet of polycarbonate plastic film receiving sheet in one main configuration and optionally, may be used as a beam to support a medial portion of the said polycarbonate film material in a second main configuration.

The polycarbonate film receiving sheet is attached at its forward edge to the film developing equipment in alignment below the film delivery rollers and terminates rearwardly in an upwardly bent flange. In a first configuration, for use with smaller developed film, the polycarbonate film sheet is bent to a generally U- shaped configuration within the film receiving basket and has its rearward flange engaged upon the bent flange of the basket back. The polycarbonate film material is longitudinally creased to provide a plurality of stiffening ribs whereby the film material may be aligned in a single plane when extended in a planar configuration. In the planar configuration, the creased ribs rest upon the flange of the back to support the polycarbonate film receiving sheet in its planar arrangement for receiving large sized sheets of developed film.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved developed film receiving apparatus of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel developed film receiving apparatus which incorporates a rearward tray affixed to a film developing apparatus in position to receive fully developed film and wherein the tray is provided with an adjustable, pivotally connected rear panel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel developed film receiving apparatus which incorporates a generally U-shaped, open film receiving tray and a flexible polycarbonate sheet which is attached at one end to the film developing machine and which is bent to a generally U-shaped configuration within the tray for developed film receiving purposes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel developed film receiving apparatus which incorporates a generally U-shaped, open film receiving tray and a flexible polycarbonate film receiving sheet attached at one end to the film developing machine and which is bent to a generally U-shaped configuration within the tray for developed film receiving purposes and wherein the tray is provided with a rearward panel which is pivotally adjustable relative to the x-ray developing, equipment whereby the U-shaped configuration of the polycarbonate sheet can be varied to accommodate developed film of various sizes.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a novel developed film receiving apparatus for use with an automatic film developing machine which includes an open tray affixed to the rearward end of the machine, the said open tray being equipped with a rear panel which terminates upwardly in a flange and wherein the apparatus include a flexible sheet which is arranged in a generally U-shaped configuration within the tray by incorporating an end flange in contact with the rear panel flange.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel developed film receiving apparatus including a flexible, plastic sheet which is affixed at one end to a film developing machine wherein the sheet is longitudinally creased to permit the plastic sheet to assume either a generally U-shaped configuration relative to the film developing equipment or a planar configuration by utilizing the strengthening effect of the creases as strengthening ribs.

.It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel developed film receiving apparatus that is rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and readily adjustable when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear section of a film developing apparatus showing the film receiving sheet in planar configuration.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the film receiving tray in pivoted position and the plastic film receiving sheet in bent position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar'to FIG. 2 showing the rearward tray panel pivoted to its upright position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, detailed view of the plastic film receiving sheet in planar configuration.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view taken along Line 5-5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along Line 6-6 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along Line 7-7 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of our invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, we show in FIG. 1 a developed film receiving apparatus 10 which is affixed to the film delivery end 12 of a conventional x-ray or other film developing machine 14. The film receiving apparatus 10 is defined by an upwardly open tray comprising a right side panel 16, a left side panel 18, a pivotally arranged rear wall panel and a bottom closure panel 22. The top of the film receiving tray is open as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 to receive completely developed and dried x-ray or other film 24 therein.

The rear wall panel 20 terminates laterally in gusset plates 26,28 which slide inwardly of the right and left side panels 16,18 to permit the rear wall panel 20 to-be pivoted from an open position as seen in FIGS. 1,2 and 7 to a closed position 32 as illustrated in-FIGS. 3 and '6. Pivot pins 34 conventionally interconnect the respective gusset plates and side panels 26,16 and 28,18 to freely permit pivotal motion thereabout in well known manner. If desired, springs (not shown) can be interposed between the respective gusset plates and right and left side panels about the pivot pins 34 in well known manner to continuously bias the rear wall panel 20 to its open position 30. A locking device 36, which may be a conventional quadrant lock and thumb nut 38 can be provided to retain the rear wall panel 20 in any desired angular position between fully closed 32 and fully opened 30. Further, the locking device 36 should be of sufficient strength to overcome the bias of any springs (not shown) which may be employed to bias the rear wall panel 20 outwardly relative to the film developing machine 14. Preferably, the rear wall panel 20 terminates upwardly in support surface in the form of a forwardly bent flange 40 which is forwardly bent at right angles to the general orientation of the rear wall panel 20. As best seen in FIG. 6, the flange 40 terminates forwardly in a downwardly bent lip 42 which serves to retain the flange 58 of plastic film receiving sheet 44 to bend the sheet 44 to its U-shaped configuration within the tray 10 to receive the developed film 24 after it drops out of the film developing machine 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, we show in detail, the plastic developed film receiving sheet 44 which is preferably fabricated of clear polycarbonate film sheetings having sufficient transverse-flexibility and longitudinal rigidity to be suitable for the purpose. We have found 0.037 inches thick clear Lexan" sheet as manufactured by General Electric Company suitable for this purpose. The sheet 44 is generally formed rectangularly in configuration and terminates at the machine end in a bent strip 46 which is angularly defined from the mainbody portion 48 along a transverse fold 50. The strip 46 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 52,54 to facilitate affixing to the film developing machine 14 by means of conventional fasteners 56, only one of which is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The body portion 48 of the sheet 44 terminates rearwardly in film stop means which may be an upturned flange 58 which serves both to retain the developed film 24 upon its delivery to the film receiving sheet 44 (see FIG. 7) and also stops against the flange lip 42 of the rear wall panel (see FIG. 6) when the plastic film receiving sheet is arranged in its U-shaped film receiving position as in FIGS. 2,3 and 6.

The plastic film receiving sheet 44 is longitudinally permanently creased to provide a plurality of longitudinal crease beams 60,62,64,66,68 which are arranged in parallel relationship to each other and which extend the length of the body portion 48 from the transverse fold 50 to the upturned flange 58. The crease beams 60,62,64,66,68 serve to provide longitudinal rigidity to the body portion 48 whereby the body portion will tend to assume a planar configuration when the film receiving sheet 44 is allowed to extend to its full length as in FIGS. 1 and 7. The longitudinally extending crease beams provide sufficient longitudinal rigidity to the sheet 44 to retain the sheet in a two dimensional, planar position when the beams are extended to their full straight line length. The crease beams prevent the. film receiving sheet 44 from bending either upwardly or downwardly and act to maintain the sheet in the planar position. It will be noted in FIGS. 2,3 and 6 that creases readily transversly bend when so desired to provide a generally U-shaped configuration to receive small developed films.

As best seen In FIGS. 1 and 7, the top of the rear wall panel flange 40 contacts the bottom surface of the film receiving sheet 44 and all of the longitudinal crease beams 60,62,64,66,68 rest directly upon the top of the flange 40. The flange 40 contacts the longitudinal crease beams .60, 62,64,66,68 intermediate the transverse fold 50 and the upturned flange 58 in a manner to act as a brace to maintain the film receiving sheet 44 in its planar position when thesheet is extended relative to the film developing machine 14. In the embodiment illustrated, five crease beams are indicated. It will be appreciated, however, that more or fewer similar crease beams may be employed as necessary to provide the desired rigidity to the receiving sheet 44 when in the extended position as in FIGS. 1 and 7 and also to permit the necessary flexibility when the receiving sheet is flexed to its bent position as in FIGS. 2,3 and 6.

Referring now to FIG. 6, we show a fully developed film 24 exiting the developing machine 14 at the nip of the film exit rollers 72,74 until it strikes the turn roller 76 which is positioned to direct the film downwardly into the developed film receiving tray 10. As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the film receiving sheet 44 may be bent within the apparatus to a U-shaped configuration by engaging the upturned flange 58 against the lip 42 of the rear wall panel flange 40. The natural resiliency of the film receiving sheet 44 continuously urges the upturned flange 58 against the lip 42 in a manner to assure continuous engagement at all times when the rear wall panel is positioned either in the open position 30 as in FIG. 7 or the closed position 32 as in FIG. 6. The position of the receiving sheet 44 when in its U- shaped configuration with the panel 20 in the open position 30 is illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 7. The pivotal position of the rear panel 20 and the configuration of the associated sheet 44 may be varied as desired between the fully closed position 32 and fully open position 30, depending upon the size of the developed film 24 being accommodated.

As best seen in FIG. 7, whenit is desired to extend the film receiving sheet 44 to its planar position such as may be necessary to handle relatively large sheets of developed film 24, the rear wall panel 20 is moved to the open position 30 so that the flange 40 is substantially, transversely, medially positioned relative to the film receiving sheet 44. When the developed film is delivered by the rollers 72,74,76, it will slide down the sheet 44 until the leading edge 78 stops against the upturned flange 58. When it is desired to employ the film receiving sheet 44 in the U-shaped configuration for handling smaller developed film, the rear wall panel 20 may be pivoted about the pivot pin 34 and locked in any relative angular position from the vertical as illustrated in H6. 6 to a fully extended angular position illustrated in FIG. 7.

Although we have described the present invention with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specification, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a film receiving apparatus associated with a film processing machine and receiving film from the processing machine, the combination of A. an open, generally U-shaped film receiving tray rearwardly connected to the film processing machine,

I. said tray having an open top, a right side wall, a left side wall and a rear wall interconnected between the side walls, and

2. said tray including a flexible film receiving sheet having a first end and a second end,

a. said sheet having one end connected to the film processing machine in position to receive film as it is discharged by the machine,

b. the second end of the sheet being provided with film stop means at its said second end.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the rear wall terminates upwardly in a support surface.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the rear wall is pivotally connected to permit the rear wall to be movable from a closed, generally vertical position, to an open, inclined position relative to the film processing machine.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the sheet is longitudinally creased to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending crease beams.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the crease beams are of sufficient strength to maintain the sheet in two dimensional, planar configuration.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the sheet is movable from a first, transversely bent, U-shaped position within the tray to the said two dimensional, planar configuration exteriorly of the tray wherein a portion of each of the crease beams rest upon the support surface.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the film stop means engage a portion of the support surface when the sheet is bent to its U-shaped position.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the film stop 'means comprise a flange which is positioned at right angles to the planar configuration of the sheet.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the support surface comprises a forwardly bent flange and wherein the flange of the sheet engages the bent flange of the rear wall when the sheet is bent to its said U-shaped position. 

1. In a film receiving apparatus associated with a film processing machine and receiving film from the processing machine, the combination of A. an open, generally U-shaped film receiving tray rearwardly connected to the film processing machine,
 1. said tray having an open top, a right side wall, a left side wall and a rear wall interconnected between the side walls, and
 2. said tray including a flexible film receiving sheet having a first end and a second end, a. said sheet having one end connected to the film processing machine in position to receive film as it is discharged by the machine, b. the second end of the sheet being provided with film stop means at its said second end.
 2. said tray including a flexible film receiving sheet having a first end and a second end, a. said sheet having one end connected to the film processing machine in position to receive film as it is discharged by the machine, b. the second end of the sheet being provided with film stop means at its said second end.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the rear wall terminates upwardly in a support surface.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the rear wall is pivotally connected to permit the rear wall to be movable from a closed, generally vertical position, to an open, inclined position relative to the film processing machine.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the sheet is longitudinally creased to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending crease beams.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the crease beams are of sufficient strength to maintain the sheet in two dimensional, planar configuration.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the sheet is movable from a first, transversely bent, U-shaped position within the tray to the said two dimensional, planar configuration exteriorly of the tray wherein a portion of each of the crease beams rest upon the support surface.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the film stop means engage a portion of the support surface when the sheet is bent to its U-shaped position.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the film stop means comprise a flange which is positioned at right angles to the planar configuration of the sheet.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the support surface comprises a forwardly bent flange and wherein the flange of the sheet engages the bent flange of the rear wall when the sheet is bent to its said U-shaped position. 